njkayaker

Your question is too broad and non-specific (and way too early!).

Even "long road bike trips" isn't specific enough: that could mean 60 mile rides, 360 miles-in-a-weekend, or multiday tours.

You'll get a better idea of what you want (and narrow the question down) with more experience and knowledge.

You'll also tend to get better answers if you ask more specific questions. "Brain dumps" not something people are going to want to provide.

beauknowsdiddly

I just want to say you guys are freakin' hilarious! Thank you for the laughs!

njkayaker

Maybe, let the OP get more experience and be more clear about what he wants before expecting he's talking about touring.

Jeff Neese

Your Walmart bike will almost certainly not last 10 years, at least not if you do much serious riding and put many miles on it.

10 years is a long time. By then you'll have read a lot, seen a lot, and will be more in tune with the kind of distance riding you intend to do. You need a much different bike for loaded off-road touring, than you do for paved-road credit card touring, or a supported tour. A "long road bike trip" can mean a number of different things.

As others have suggested, spend time in the Touring forum.

Yan 

10 years holy smokes... I wouldn't count on being alive in 10 years let alone going on a bike tour. And I'm not just talking about the elderly retired among us. People get run over by buses every day. If you want to do something, do it now.

RMTBaiden

I forgot the name of the second bike I found but the next bike I plan on purchasing is the Trek FX Sport. Not any specific model just that bike.

RMTBaiden

I definitely do not expect to be cycling with my Walmart bike or continue using Walmart bikes in the future. I will be doing small trips but not big time touring. I also should have mentioned that I am a high school student. I can't do long trips yet. I would definitely do that if I could. I thank everyone for there replies and they have helped a lot. Opened my eyes a little bit. So I will be taking everyone advice and run my current bike to the limit it can take before buying a new one.

RMTBaiden

Thank you. My other reply has explained things a little bit. I am not a newbie cyclist, and I have learned I should be more in detail with my questions. I have figured some things out and took these replies into thought.

big john

That's a flat bar bike. It would work but a lot of us prefer drop bars for long days on the bike,, especially if it's windy. I've done a bit of touring and for my longest tour I bought a frame and built it up the way I wanted it. Got the frame cheap but built strong wheels and bought good racks and panniers. The other stuff like crank, gears, etc. aren't as important in my opinion. As long as you have the low gear you need. I wanted simple so I got some used bar end shifters and other used stuff.

I started by just doing overnight rides to another town. Eventually did 6 weeks on the road and a bunch of shorter trips. For overnight or even longer trips any bike will work. You can get a seatpost rack and carry bags on that and even wear a backpack.

For the long trip we bought maps from Adventure Cycling. These are good because they show things from a cyclist's perspective.
Route Maps | Adventure Cycling Association